Artificial bait.



H. s. WBLLBS. ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1912.

1,078,886, Patented N0v. 18,1913.

Z I: I/

I citizen of the United States, residing in the UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HENBY S. WELLES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

, ARTIFICIAL BAIT.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented'Nov. 18, 1913.

Application filed July 30, 1912. Eerial No. 712,276.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IENRY S. VELLES, a

city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improve:

ment in Artificial Baits, of which the following is a specification. i l

The invention relates to; floating artificial baits, andthe object of the invention is to provide a bait of thischaracter which shall dive beneath the surface when drawn through the waterin trolling, or on therecovery of the line in casting, and travel in a path below the surface while such motion The remaining figures are on a larger scale.

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a preferred form of the improved bait constructed-for shallow travel. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of-the same, and Fig. 4 a top or plan view. Fig.

5 is a corresponding longitudinal vertical section, on the line 55 in Fig. 4, and partly in elevation.- Fig. 6 is a similar section of a bait adapted' f for deep travel. -F1gs. 7 and 8 are longitudinal vertical sections showing.

modified forms, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of the form shown in Fig. 8. Fig, 10 is a.similar section and part elevation of another modification. A

Similarletters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

In all the forms the bait comprises a hollow box-like structure open at the front and having a fiat top portion tapered from front to rear, vertical side's depending from the top and-similarly tapered, and an inclined plane between. the sides and forming the bottom of thestructure.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive,

light wood,.tapered from the .nose B. to the tail at the rear, and DD are the sides of to which the. line secured.

time I the uppermost bait shown in Fig. 1, A is the I top which may be understood to be of thin less length thanthe top to provide an overhang or projection of the nose B and tail C, as shown, tapered from front to rear and joined to the edges of the top and also by a tapered plane E extending from the front nearly to the rear on an angular inclination to the under face of the top. Hooks F 'F,

singly or in gangs, as shown, are attachedto the under face of the plane E and serve; either with or without additional ballast in maintaining the desired position with the top A up ermost and sides" D D. vertical when the ait is in the water. When'lying idly on the water the bait. floats in this position' on the surface, but when drawn ,bythe line G the action of the/water on the plane E causes it to dive beneath the surfaceand travel in the submerged condition, the depth depending upon the relative inclination of the plane to the top, the quantity and locationof ballast, and the speed at Which-the device is drawn through the water. a a

To permit the-escape of air partially im'. prisoned in the interior and allow immediate descent in casting, theiopening H H are provided inthe top A and additional" openings J J in the. sides near the top, through which and' to prevent the escape of the, fish, even though the bait be crushed between its jaws, the hooks F F are attached to and connected, by a wire K extendingthrough an opening I in the nose Band provided with a loop M In Fig t the general construction is as above described, but th-e angle of inclination of the plane E to the tops; is greater;

this, form willnnder likeconditions tend to travel at a greater de th, as. indicated. by the'lowermost bait-in ig. 1. In this form thenose B projects farther forward to the air may pass quickly;.'

G or leader G may be present a. greater area'in advance of the '-.sides D D and plane, E to. aid in insuring a quick dive. The hooksF areshownas secured and arranged differently to. the preceding figuresbut it will beund-erstood they may be similarly arranged.

Fig. 'T shows .aforxn' inwwhich the plane- E? is reduced in "lengthrelativelyi to the top A, and two of the hooks F =are., supported. by cross ro'ds or wires N extending ,from, side to side. i i

In Figs; 8 and 9 a form isshownin which the sides D D are of thin'metal and the plane E extends to the under face of the top A a single vent H is provided in the top of sufiicient area to permit the escape of air and the current of water induced by the movement of the bait.

Fig. shows a modification resembling theform in Fig. 7 but" having the plane E divided into twov portions.

The general action of all the forms is the same, but each will differ somewhat in individual action as to depth of travel and steadiness of motion under varied speeds.

Other modifications may be made in the forms and proportions, and ballast may be added and located as found necessary or desirable. I

I claim v 1. The floating bait described consisting of a top'portion of less gravity than water and having a continuous flat upper surface, aplane beneath said top, carried by the latter and arranged at an inclination thereto, and means for ballastingsuch bait.

The floating bait described consisting of a top portion of less gravity than water and having a continuousflat upper surface, sides depending from said top, aninclined plane supported by and betwcensaid sides, and means for ballasting said bait.

3. The floating bait described consisting of a top portion of less gravity'than water and having a continuous flat upper surface, sides depending from said top, and a plane between said sides,'and arranged at an inclination to said flat top, the whole forming a box-like structure open at the front.

a. The floating bait described consisting of a top portion of less gravity than water and having a continuous flat upper surface, sides depending from said top, and an inclined plane between said sides, the whole forming a box-like structure substantially rectangular in crosssection open at the front, said top having an opening therein.

5. The floating bait described consisting of a top portion of less gravity than water, sides depending'from said top, -and an inclined plane between said sides, the whole forming a box-like structure substantially rectangular in cross-section openat the front, said top and sides having openings therein.

6. The artificial bait described consisting of a top portion of less gravity than water, and'an inclined plane carried by said top portion beneath the latter independent of and separated therefrom and arranged to submerge such bait when drawn through the water.

7 The artificial bait described comprisin a box-like structure open at the front ant having a top portion of less gravity than water and having a continuous flat upper surface, a plane inclined rearwardly and upwardlyfrom the front toward said top portion, and sides depending from said topa'nd having means for attaching a line' thereto.

9. The artificial bait described comprising a box-like structure open at the front and having atop portion of less gravity than water and having a continuous flat upper surface, sides depending from said top por-v tion, a plane mounted between said sides and inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front toward said top portion, a nose on said top portion extending beyond said sides and plane, and'hooks on the lower part of such structure.

10. The artificial bait described comprising a box-like structure open at the front and having a top portion of less gravity than water and having a continuous flat upper surface, sides depending from said top portion, a plane mounted between said sides and inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front toward said top portion, a nose on said topportion extending beyond said sides and plane, and hooks on the lower part of such structure, said top and sides having openings therein.

11. An artificial bait comprising a fiatf'aced top portion of less gravity than water and a member supported beneath said top portion at'an inclination thereto and at a distance therefrom, said member being provided with hooks.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY S. VVELLE S.

Witnesses CHARLES R. SEARLE, CORA M. F REDERICKS. 

